Hi folks,

I'm sure some of you know that I will releasing my game soon. I am looking for some community advice on the subject of advertising and driving sales. If you HAVE NOT finished a game, or have not been a part of a game that was released, please do not post because I am looking for solid opinions based on facts.

I have done countless hours of research, and planning. I've read books apon books, looking for the best possible solutions for a indy developer like myself.
I want to see what the community has to say about the following questions.

#1 Is a 5,000 USD 4 inch x 4 inch, two week add on Gamespot really worth it?

Assume that I make the ad eye catching and professional. Gamespot "garauntees" 3 million impressions, and the sales department claims that "on average" 1% of their customers get hits, and 2%-5% of those hits result is sales. They also get approximately 5 million hits per day on their website, so alot of people visit. If you do the math, thats approximately 26,500 USD profit if the game sells for 30 USD. How realistic do you feel these figures are?

#2 In the past, did you find that selling your games in the indy communities generated positive feedback, that out weighed the negative feedback of your game. And if so, was the financial return worth the investment of your time promoting in the communities?

#3 Before a publishing company will seriously take a look at a indy game, where the creator or team does not have an prior experience, how many copies do they wish to see sold?

#4 What types of advertising have you done, and which were the most lucrative?

Thankyou for your help and suppport!

Jesse